A row has erupted between a group of churchgoers and their local council after
disabled parishioners were handed parking tickets by zealous traffic wardens
while they attended Sunday mass.

For years, regular visitors to Our Lady and St Hubert had been leaving their cars in the unofficial parking area outside the church during services.

However, as parishioners – many of whom were elderly and in wheelchairs – emerged from the Catholic church in Warley, West Midlands at the weekend, they found traffic wardens had slapped £50 tickets on their cars.

One parishioner had even told another group of wardens earlier in the day that holders of blue badges – which denote a disabled driver – were allowed to park outside the church.

Yet the wardens were photographed by a passer-by placing tickets on around eight vehicles. The photographer said all but one of the cars clearly displayed blue badges.

Mary Docker, 59, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, said she arrived at Our Lady and St Hubert to find wardens waiting to give out tickets.

Mrs Docker, a former councillor, told the Daily Mail: "I told [the first wardens] the church had special dispensation for disabled parking. But when I came out there was a ticket on my car.

"It's so unfair, and mean. I can't walk any great distance and I worry that I might not be able to continue attending the church where I've been going for many years."

Father Peter Blundell, the parish priest at Our Lady and St Hubert, said he was told by the local highways department five years ago that worshippers could park outside the church as long as they left room for pedestrians to get by.

He believes the new restrictions have been enforced following an extension of the Wolverhampton Road red route, which now takes in the road past the church.

He said although the change had been made three weeks ago, locals had not been consulted on the change and had not been notified that the restrictions had been brought in.

"If parishioners can't park outside it means disabled people will have to leave their cars far away.

"If the council refuses to budge I worry I might not see some of them again."

Sandwell council has said they will be investigating the matter and there would be an appeals process for each of the drivers who have received fines.

Councillor Maria Crompton said: "Regulations do state that where red lines have been painted on the road the traffic regulations include the footpath."